The Free Agency Thread

[SD_Eagle5]

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_updat...Y_INTEREST.html

"THOMAS: EAGLES HAVEN'T SHOWN ANY INTEREST; SHAWN SPRINGS VISITING BIRDS

Tra Thomas left Jacksonville without a contract, but he showed zero optimism today when asked if he still thought there was a chance he'd return to the Eagles next season.

"They haven't shown any interest in bringing me back, so as hard as it is I have to move forward," Thomas said via text message. "The Eagles have always been the team I wanted to play for, but now I have to go to the team that wants me."

Thomas, who returned to his South Jersey home to celebrate one of his son's birthdays tomorrow, didn't say if the Jaguars would be that team, but Jacksonville is the only place he has visited thus far. It's also roughly 100 miles from his boyhood home in Deland, Fla.

The Eagles also announced that veteran cornerback Shawn Springs has arrived in town for a visit with the team. Springs, 33, has played the last five seasons with the Washington taterskins, but was released by the team Saturday as part of a salary-cap purge. He had 12 interceptions in his five seasons with the taterskins.

There have been rumblings that the Eagles might try to trade veteran Sheldon Brown, who has given indications that he might not be happy about his contract situation. A visit by Springs will only fuel that speculation. Of course, it could also rekindle the debate about moving Brown to safety now that Brian Dawkins is gone."

[BigEd76]

pfft...like they'd sign a 34-yr old

[QB Eagles]

Double dose of AIDS in that story. I wonder what the top-secret plan is at the Novacare because so far this is the weakest offseason in recent memory.

[The BIGSTUD]

It seems blatantly clear to me that they are blaming the Arizona loss on their aging nucleus and decided after the game that the way to get to the next level was make every position younger.

Which doesn't explain Springs, but whatever.

I'm beginning to wonder now if they plan on trading McNabb. These moves scream rebuilding to me.

[ice grillin you]

It seems blatantly clear to me that they are blaming the Arizona loss on their aging nucleus and decided after the game that the way to get to the next level was make every position younger.

Which doesn't explain Springs, but whatever.

lol @ arguing with yourself

[Eagaholic]

I have no idea what the plan is, unless it's to hit the second and third wave of free agency real hard. That and play the Rockey theme really loud at the home opener. That gets the fans PUMPED!

[Magical_Retard]

The plan is what it always is. Unless there is a big time CB or DE available who they can sign, and not have to trade for, they will sit back and sign 2nd tier players coming off injuries just to push the already designated starters during camp.

They will also attempt to address all their needs with the 11 picks they have. Cause you know they are so awesome at doing that. Apparently they will get impact players at all the following need positions: T, RB, TE, WR, S, and LB.

[PhillyPhreak54]

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_updat...Y_INTEREST.html

"THOMAS: EAGLES HAVEN'T SHOWN ANY INTEREST; SHAWN SPRINGS VISITING BIRDS

Tra Thomas left Jacksonville without a contract, but he showed zero optimism today when asked if he still thought there was a chance he'd return to the Eagles next season.

"They haven't shown any interest in bringing me back, so as hard as it is I have to move forward," Thomas said via text message. "The Eagles have always been the team I wanted to play for, but now I have to go to the team that wants me."

Thomas, who returned to his South Jersey home to celebrate one of his son's birthdays tomorrow, didn't say if the Jaguars would be that team, but Jacksonville is the only place he has visited thus far. It's also roughly 100 miles from his boyhood home in Deland, Fla.

The Eagles also announced that veteran cornerback Shawn Springs has arrived in town for a visit with the team. Springs, 33, has played the last five seasons with the Washington taterskins, but was released by the team Saturday as part of a salary-cap purge. He had 12 interceptions in his five seasons with the taterskins.

There have been rumblings that the Eagles might try to trade veteran Sheldon Brown, who has given indications that he might not be happy about his contract situation. A visit by Springs will only fuel that speculation. Of course, it could also rekindle the debate about moving Brown to safety now that Brian Dawkins is gone."

This FO has gone full blown insane.

But then again, Sheldon is one who will speak out from time to time..and that can't happen at Camp Banner. Talk out of line, want more money and you get benched or traded or cut.

Yeah, let's let Sheldon go...sign Springs as his replacement and then watch as Hanson gets torced when Springs misses his required 4 or so games.

They have lost their goddamn minds.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Per Dave on Eagles Live LJ Smith is officially a Falcon. Later twatface.

So much for that...I wondered why we haven't seen anything official...

L.J. SMITH TO VISIT LIONS
Posted by Aaron Wilson on March 3, 2009, 6:25 p.m.

Philadelphia Eagles free agent tight end L.J. Smith is on his way to Detroit where he'll meet with Lions team officials tonight and Tuesday, according to Albert Breer of SportingNews.com.

Smith caught just 37 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns last season one year removed from being the Eagles' franchise player.

In 2006, Smith caught 50 passes and five touchdowns.

As Breer points out, the Lions are hurting at tight end. Between Michael Gaines and Casey Fitzsimmons, they combined for just 35 receptions last season.

[reese125]

you meant to tell me that he couldnt leave the Falcons facility without a contract offer when their top tight end is Justin Peele

wow you suck

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

If the Eagles sign Springs and then trade Sheldon, I will Jihad something.

[BigEd76]

Domowitch to Eagles fans: STFU

We're just 5 days into the free agency signing period and Eagles fans once again are having their annual March panic attack.

Oh my God. Dawk is gone. What are we going to do for a free safety next season? Somebody call 911.

Oh my God. Correll Buckhalter is gone too. If Andy Reid thinks he can go into '09 with Lorenzo Booker as his backup running back, he must be taking stupid pills.

Oh my God. These crazy SOBs also are letting left tackle Tra Thomas test free agency. What if they lose him too?

For crying out loud, calm down people. I understand your anger over the Eagles letting a beloved player like Dawkins leave. And while it certainly wasn't one of their smarter public relations moves, the bottom line is his departure is going to have a minimal effect on one of the league's best defenses.

Will he be missed in the locker room? Absolutely. Will they miss his leadership? Yes, but Jim Johnson's talented unit has plenty of others who will step up and fill the leadership void, including cornerback Sheldon Brown, safety Quintin Mikell and linebacker Stewart Bradley.

If you're an Eagles fan, you should be more concerned right now with the free agent reinforcements the Giants have brought in to strengthen an already potent defensive line. If you're an Eagles fan, you should be more concerned that, for some inexplicable reason, they never went after the best offensive lineman in free agency – center/guard Jason Brown – than that they let Dawkins take a hike.

But it's early. Too early to be making absolute judgments about this team. Too early to be suggesting, as some lunatic-fringe talk-show hosts have, that they're in a rebuilding mode.

Let's see what they do in the remaining months of free agency. Let's see what they do in next month's draft, particularly with those 2 first-round picks.

While many of the big names already have been plucked from the free agency market, there still are people out there that can help this team. There are some decent blocking fullbacks, including the Patriots' Heath Evans and the Cardinals' Terrelle Smith.

While there really isn't a free agent left tackle worth signing, there still are some good interior linemen available, in case the Eagles plan to move one of their 2 starting guards – Todd Herremans or Shawn Andrews – outside to left tackle.
And there still are some pretty good unsigned safeties that can be either a starting replacement for Dawkins or a backup to Demps if they think he is ready.

As for a running back to share the load with Westbrook, who will turn 30 before next season, they're going to have to address that in the draft, probably with one of those 2 first-round picks. Because there's only dreck left.

[dis12]

Adam Schefter of NFLNetwork reports Edgerrin James spoke with Cardinals GM Rod Graves and pleaded to be cut. James knows that he will eventually be cut and he is missing out on other teams right now.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Pass.

[reese125]

I dont understand all the "passes" for these aging veterans

If youre looking for a long term deal with a big bonus I see your point, but if they sign for pennies who cares--they'll be here for a year maybe 2 if their lucky--which is probably the Eagles only shot at a championship anyway

any veteran at this point Im down--minus CB or S